Zenit St. Petersburg is considering the sale of Brazil winger Malcolm in the January transfer window despite having bought him barely two weeks ago from Spanish giants Barcelona. The former Bordeaux winger was racially abused from a section of his own fans while making his debut last weekend.
The St.Petersburg fans apparently held a banner that claimed ‘Keep our tradition and do not sign black players’ and also chanted racists slurs against their new signing.
Zenit St. Petersburg are considering selling new signing Malcom after just one game.
Zenit fans held a banner up saying “Keep our traditions the same and don’t sign black players.”
No place for this in football😡❌ pic.twitter.com/uzgwDQJOWV
— PurelyFootball UK (@PurelyFootball) August 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/FootyAccums/status/1158328782362742784?s=20
#Zenit already thinking about selling new signing #Malcom after he was racially abused by one of their Ultra groups via @mundodeportivo
— Steve Mitchell (@barafundler) August 5, 2019
Malcom joined Barcelona from French side Bordeaux in 2018 but found playtime hard to come by at the Camp Nou and was sold to the Russian club for an initial fee of €40 million which could rise to €45 million.
Racism in football has been on the rise in European football. Last season, Arsenal striker Pierre Aubameyang had a banana thrown at him during the North London derby clash at the Emirates Stadium. Manchester City winger was also subjected to racial abuse in City’s match with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.